MARYVILLE PATHO NURS 611 LATEST 2026-2027 EXAM
2/MARYVILLE PATHO NURS 611 EXAM 2 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES LATEST UPDATES (100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A 68-year-old man with long-standing hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy (LVH). Which pathophysiologic process is primarily responsible for
the increase in myocardial muscle mass?
A. Hyperplasia of cardiac myocytes
B. Hypertrophy of existing cardiac myocytes
C. Fibrosis replacing healthy myocardium
D. Atrophy of myocardial cells
Answer: B. Hypertrophy of existing cardiac myocytes
Rationale: Adult cardiac muscle cells have minimal ability to divide. In response
to chronic pressure overload such as hypertension, existing myocytes enlarge by
synthesizing additional contractile proteins. Hyperplasia does not significantly
occur in adult myocardium.
2. A patient with acute myocardial infarction develops pulmonary edema. Which
mechanism best explains this complication?
A. Increased right ventricular output
B. Decreased pulmonary capillary permeability
C. Elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure causing increased pulmonary
capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
,Answer: C. Elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure causing increased
pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, increasing hydrostatic pressure and forcing fluid into the alveoli,
resulting in pulmonary edema.
3. Which electrolyte abnormality is most likely to cause peaked T waves on an
electrocardiogram?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia accelerates ventricular repolarization, producing tall,
peaked T waves. As potassium levels rise further, widening of the QRS complex
and life-threatening arrhythmias may occur.
4. Which compensatory mechanism is activated first following acute
hemorrhage?
A. Increased erythropoiesis
B. Aldosterone secretion
C. Sympathetic nervous system activation
D. Increased albumin synthesis
Answer: C. Sympathetic nervous system activation
Rationale: The immediate response to blood loss is sympathetic activation,
producing tachycardia, increased myocardial contractility, and peripheral
vasoconstriction to maintain tissue perfusion.
5. A patient has metabolic acidosis. Which respiratory compensation is
expected?
,A. Bradypnea
B. Apnea
C. Hyperventilation
D. Shallow breathing
Answer: C. Hyperventilation
Rationale: Hyperventilation reduces PaCO₂, thereby decreasing carbonic acid
concentration and partially correcting metabolic acidosis.
6. Which hormone directly promotes water reabsorption in the renal collecting
ducts?
A. Aldosterone
B. Renin
C. Atrial natriuretic peptide
D. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Answer: D. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Rationale: ADH increases water permeability in the collecting ducts by inserting
aquaporin channels, leading to increased water reabsorption and concentrated
urine.
7. A patient develops nephrotic syndrome. Which laboratory finding is
expected?
A. Increased serum albumin
B. Hematuria only
C. Massive proteinuria
D. Elevated hematocrit
Answer: C. Massive proteinuria
Rationale: Damage to the glomerular filtration barrier results in excessive
protein loss in urine, causing hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.
8. Which acid-base disorder is most likely in a patient with prolonged vomiting?
, A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: D. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach,
increasing serum bicarbonate and producing metabolic alkalosis.
9. Which hormone is primarily responsible for increasing blood calcium levels?
A. Calcitonin
B. Insulin
C. Cortisol
D. Parathyroid hormone
Answer: D. Parathyroid hormone
Rationale: Parathyroid hormone raises serum calcium by stimulating bone
resorption, increasing renal calcium reabsorption, and activating vitamin D.
10. A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia. What is the primary
cause?
A. Iron deficiency
B. Hemolysis
C. Blood loss
D. Decreased erythropoietin production
Answer: D. Decreased erythropoietin production
Rationale: Diseased kidneys produce insufficient erythropoietin, leading to
reduced red blood cell production and normocytic, normochromic anemia.
11. Which finding is most characteristic of right-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Crackles
2/MARYVILLE PATHO NURS 611 EXAM 2 PRACTICE
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS WITH
RATIONALES LATEST UPDATES (100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS) ALREADY GRADED A+
1. A 68-year-old man with long-standing hypertension develops left ventricular
hypertrophy (LVH). Which pathophysiologic process is primarily responsible for
the increase in myocardial muscle mass?
A. Hyperplasia of cardiac myocytes
B. Hypertrophy of existing cardiac myocytes
C. Fibrosis replacing healthy myocardium
D. Atrophy of myocardial cells
Answer: B. Hypertrophy of existing cardiac myocytes
Rationale: Adult cardiac muscle cells have minimal ability to divide. In response
to chronic pressure overload such as hypertension, existing myocytes enlarge by
synthesizing additional contractile proteins. Hyperplasia does not significantly
occur in adult myocardium.
2. A patient with acute myocardial infarction develops pulmonary edema. Which
mechanism best explains this complication?
A. Increased right ventricular output
B. Decreased pulmonary capillary permeability
C. Elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure causing increased pulmonary
capillary hydrostatic pressure
D. Increased plasma oncotic pressure
,Answer: C. Elevated left ventricular end-diastolic pressure causing increased
pulmonary capillary hydrostatic pressure
Rationale: Left ventricular failure causes blood to back up into the pulmonary
circulation, increasing hydrostatic pressure and forcing fluid into the alveoli,
resulting in pulmonary edema.
3. Which electrolyte abnormality is most likely to cause peaked T waves on an
electrocardiogram?
A. Hyponatremia
B. Hypokalemia
C. Hypocalcemia
D. Hyperkalemia
Answer: D. Hyperkalemia
Rationale: Hyperkalemia accelerates ventricular repolarization, producing tall,
peaked T waves. As potassium levels rise further, widening of the QRS complex
and life-threatening arrhythmias may occur.
4. Which compensatory mechanism is activated first following acute
hemorrhage?
A. Increased erythropoiesis
B. Aldosterone secretion
C. Sympathetic nervous system activation
D. Increased albumin synthesis
Answer: C. Sympathetic nervous system activation
Rationale: The immediate response to blood loss is sympathetic activation,
producing tachycardia, increased myocardial contractility, and peripheral
vasoconstriction to maintain tissue perfusion.
5. A patient has metabolic acidosis. Which respiratory compensation is
expected?
,A. Bradypnea
B. Apnea
C. Hyperventilation
D. Shallow breathing
Answer: C. Hyperventilation
Rationale: Hyperventilation reduces PaCO₂, thereby decreasing carbonic acid
concentration and partially correcting metabolic acidosis.
6. Which hormone directly promotes water reabsorption in the renal collecting
ducts?
A. Aldosterone
B. Renin
C. Atrial natriuretic peptide
D. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Answer: D. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)
Rationale: ADH increases water permeability in the collecting ducts by inserting
aquaporin channels, leading to increased water reabsorption and concentrated
urine.
7. A patient develops nephrotic syndrome. Which laboratory finding is
expected?
A. Increased serum albumin
B. Hematuria only
C. Massive proteinuria
D. Elevated hematocrit
Answer: C. Massive proteinuria
Rationale: Damage to the glomerular filtration barrier results in excessive
protein loss in urine, causing hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.
8. Which acid-base disorder is most likely in a patient with prolonged vomiting?
, A. Metabolic acidosis
B. Respiratory acidosis
C. Respiratory alkalosis
D. Metabolic alkalosis
Answer: D. Metabolic alkalosis
Rationale: Vomiting causes loss of hydrochloric acid from the stomach,
increasing serum bicarbonate and producing metabolic alkalosis.
9. Which hormone is primarily responsible for increasing blood calcium levels?
A. Calcitonin
B. Insulin
C. Cortisol
D. Parathyroid hormone
Answer: D. Parathyroid hormone
Rationale: Parathyroid hormone raises serum calcium by stimulating bone
resorption, increasing renal calcium reabsorption, and activating vitamin D.
10. A patient with chronic kidney disease develops anemia. What is the primary
cause?
A. Iron deficiency
B. Hemolysis
C. Blood loss
D. Decreased erythropoietin production
Answer: D. Decreased erythropoietin production
Rationale: Diseased kidneys produce insufficient erythropoietin, leading to
reduced red blood cell production and normocytic, normochromic anemia.
11. Which finding is most characteristic of right-sided heart failure?
A. Pulmonary edema
B. Crackles
